show about single cylinder solenoid valve engine. the copper coil winding on pvc pipe. the neodymium magnet ac on linear motor type. the flywheel are rotated.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many different types of motorcycle engines, and what makes one kind of engine so different from another? We go through everything from big thumpers to boxer twins to outrageous inline-sizes and explain all!
The internal combustion engine doesn't get any simpler than this; one big cylinder thumping away to create power. Simple in operation, cheap to produce, and easy to repair and maintain, single-cylinder engines lend themselves to use in economy motorcycles and scooters, and have powered millions of budget bikes the world over.
But that's not the only place they're at home; the thumping power pulse and good bottom end torque of a big single is also ideally suited to dirt riding. Virtually every dirt bike and many dual sports also run on single-cylinder engines, affectionately called "thumpers" for the pounding vibration and sound they create.
Found in:
Virtually all dirt bikes and supermotos
Most dual-sports
Economy bikes like the Honda CBR300R
When you think of a twin-cylinder motorcycle engine, your mind probably goes straight to the "Big Twins" that power most American cruisers. But you can't forget about the compact and economical parallel twin (or inline-two cylinder) engines that are characteristic of many bikes in history, such as the signature mill that powers the Triumph Bonneville. But the parallel twin is not just some relic; fast revving, high-performance versions of this engine configuration also power the sporty Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the even sportier all-new Yamaha R3.
Found in:
Many lower-end sport bikes
Iconic cruisers and standards
BMW dual-sports (F650GS, F800GS)
Strengths:
Narrow and light
Responsive
Easy and relatively cheap to manufacture
Good for general riding and commuting
The most iconic and recognizable motorcycle engine, especially here in the States, is undoubtedly the V-twin. With two big cylinders oriented in a "V" pattern, the "Big Twin" engine powers virtually every American cruiser (and even many Japanese ones.) The thick powerband, off-the-line torque, and most of all, the signature V-twin sound have been the keys to the V-twin's persistent popularity through the decades.
V-twins generally put out less power than similar-sized inline-4 counterparts, though they make up for it with the brute torque inherent to the V-twin's architecture. But V-twins can be fast too; just look to Ducati for inspiration about what a performance-tuned V-twin can do. The Italian sport bike manufacturer has been building and racing high-performance V-twins for a long time, and is cranking out an incredible 205 HP from the engine in the new 1299 Panigale.
If you're looking at a boxer twin in a motorcycle, more than likely you're looking at a BMW; the odd-looking engine layout has been a signature part of the German manufacturer's motorcycle designs for the better part of a century. The boxer twin is perfectly balanced, smooth, and delivers gobs of torque across the entire powerband.
It's from this unique engine layout that the ubiquitous BMW GS, the most popular bike with a boxer twin, gets its ability to "tractor" its way through the toughest terrain in the world; those two big cylinders thump out enough torque to get the 600-pound bikes through just about anything, even at just above idle. It may not be the sexiest-looking engine ever put in a bike, but the boxer twin certainly has its strengths.
show about single cylinder solenoid valve engine. the copper coil winding on pvc pipe. the neodymium magnet ac on linear motor type. the flywheel are rotated.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many different types of motorcycle engines, and what makes one kind of engine so different from another? We go through everything from big thumpers to boxer twins to outrageous inline-sizes and explain all!
The internal combustion engine doesn't get any simpler than this; one big cylinder thumping away to create power. Simple in operation, cheap to produce, and easy to repair and maintain, single-cylinder engines lend themselves to use in economy motorcycles and scooters, and have powered millions of budget bikes the world over.
But that's not the only place they're at home; the thumping power pulse and good bottom end torque of a big single is also ideally suited to dirt riding. Virtually every dirt bike and many dual sports also run on single-cylinder engines, affectionately called "thumpers" for the pounding vibration and sound they create.
Found in:
Virtually all dirt bikes and supermotos
Most dual-sports
Economy bikes like the Honda CBR300R
When you think of a twin-cylinder motorcycle engine, your mind probably goes straight to the "Big Twins" that power most American cruisers. But you can't forget about the compact and economical parallel twin (or inline-two cylinder) engines that are characteristic of many bikes in history, such as the signature mill that powers the Triumph Bonneville. But the parallel twin is not just some relic; fast revving, high-performance versions of this engine configuration also power the sporty Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the even sportier all-new Yamaha R3.
Found in:
Many lower-end sport bikes
Iconic cruisers and standards
BMW dual-sports (F650GS, F800GS)
Strengths:
Narrow and light
Responsive
Easy and relatively cheap to manufacture
Good for general riding and commuting
The most iconic and recognizable motorcycle engine, especially here in the States, is undoubtedly the V-twin. With two big cylinders oriented in a "V" pattern, the "Big Twin" engine powers virtually every American cruiser (and even many Japanese ones.) The thick powerband, off-the-line torque, and most of all, the signature V-twin sound have been the keys to the V-twin's persistent popularity through the decades.
V-twins generally put out less power than similar-sized inline-4 counterparts, though they make up for it with the brute torque inherent to the V-twin's architecture. But V-twins can be fast too; just look to Ducati for inspiration about what a performance-tuned V-twin can do. The Italian sport bike manufacturer has been building and racing high-performance V-twins for a long time, and is cranking out an incredible 205 HP from the engine in the new 1299 Panigale.
If you're looking at a boxer twin in a motorcycle, more than likely you're looking at a BMW; the odd-looking engine layout has been a signature part of the German manufacturer's motorcycle designs for the better part of a century. The boxer twin is perfectly balanced, smooth, and delivers gobs of torque across the entire powerband.
It's from this unique engine layout that the ubiquitous BMW GS, the most popular bike with a boxer twin, gets its ability to "tractor" its way through the toughest terrain in the world; those two big cylinders thump out enough torque to get the 600-pound bikes through just about anything, even at just above idle. It may not be the sexiest-looking engine ever put in a bike, but the boxer twin certainly has its strengths.
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